Sapindcuea Xanthoceras. 1 05 



2. XANTHOCERAS. 



Leaves alternate, exstipulate, imparipinnate. Flowers regular, 

 polygamous, large, white, in terminal simple racemes ; pedicels 

 long, bracteate at the base. Sepals 5, boat-shaped, imbricate. 

 Petals 5, elongated, clawed, without scales. Stamens 8. Cap- 

 sule as large as an apple, corticate, 3-celled, with several seeds 

 in each cell, splitting loculicidally. Name from %av66s, yellow, 

 and icepaS) a horn. 



1. X. sorbifolia. The only species, still very rare in gardens, 

 It is a beautiful hardy tree of small stature, with leaves- resem- 

 bling those of Pyrus Aucupdria, and white flowers with as 

 purple eye. The spot at the base of each petal is primarily 

 yellow, hence probably the generic name. A native of Nortb 

 China. 



3. JESCULUS (including Pawa). 



Noble trees with opposite exstipulate digitately 5- to 9-folio- 

 late deciduous leaves and terminal panicles or racemes of 

 usually showy flowers. Flowers polygamous, irregular. Sepals 

 and petals 4 or 5. Stamens 5 to 8. Capsule coriaceous, prickly 

 or smooth, 3-lobed or globose, 3- (or by abortion 1- or 2-) celled ; 

 seeds large, resembling the fruit of the edible Chestnut. There 

 are about fourteen species, from North America, the mountains 

 of Central America and Asia. From esca, food. Pavia was- 

 separated on account of the capsule being nakedV but this cha- 

 racter is uncertain and variable. 



1. jE. Hippocdstanum (fig. 64). Horse Chestnut. This 

 highly ornamental tree needs no description. It is supposed to 

 be a native of Asia, and was introduced into Europe some three 

 centuries ago. There is a double-flowered variety, and also* 

 variegated and other varieties, differing in the leaves being 

 more or less lobed or cut. 



2. jE. rubicunda, syn. ^E. coccinea? ^E. cdrnea. Scarlet- 

 flowered Horse Chestnut. The origin of this is obscure ; by 

 some it is averred to be from North America, and by others a 

 garden variety of the preceding. However that may be, it is 1 a 

 beautiful tree, differing in its smaller stature and more rounded 

 head from the common one. There are several varieties 

 referred to this, but none of them probably superior to the type. 



3. jE. Indica. A very handsome though still very rare tree. 

 Leaves very large, glabrous, 7- to 9-foIiolate ; leaflets obovate- 



